The extensive Montaza Palace grounds first had the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by
Khedive Abbas II, the last
Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over the
Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. It was used as a hunting lodge and residence for his companion. The larger El-Haramlek Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by
King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of
Ottoman and
Florentine styles, with two towers. One of these towers rises distinctively high above with elaborated Italian
Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor. President
Anwar El-Sadat renovated the original Salamlek Palace as an official presidential residence. It was most recently used by former president
Hosni Mubarak. ==Public access==